Aronberg tops Gelber in first rush for cash

Florida's Democrat-only Attorney General race between two South Florida state senators appears to have Dave Aronberg of Greenacres leading with $173,000 while Miami Beach's Dan Gelber raised $153,000, after returning his cash from his short-term U.S. Senate campaign.

"Wow -- and thank you. Without your commitment and without your belief in our campaign, this would not have happened,'' Aronberg told supporters in an email.

Aronberg today distances himself from a Palm Beach Post find about one of his supporters, who also solicited money for his fundraising efforts. Jeffrey R. Gibson, a Jupiter boxing instructor and partner in a hormone therapy product Web site, is also an an ex-convict whose latest arrest came as recently as last year. Aronberg says he met Gibson at a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser (see 2005 article about Gibson here) but didn't get a contribution from him. "He sent me an email but I can't control who's supporting me,'' Aronberg said. "I can control who's giving money to me.''

Gelber reported on his Twitter account that he raised $38,000 online in three weeks from 191 online supporters. He told his Facebook friends that he was pleased with his fundraising, after announcing his candidacy for AG "only 21 days before the end of the quarter, which means our campaign had the shortest time to raise money of any candidate in any statewide race. In 3 weeks we raised more than $150,000....Given the very short time to raise money, I am very happy with the outcome and grateful for your support."

Comments

[...]

Go Dave Go

[...]

Go Dan Go.

[Brandon Sernoff]

That's quite impressive for Dave Aronberg to raise all that money in three weeks. I am supporting Dave Aronberg regardless but I think this surely shows his support throughout the state.

[Timmy]

$153,000?
Is this a Florida Senate race or a Statewide race?
$153,000 will purchase how many ads in Tampa, Orlando, Jax, Pensacola?

You South Florida boys better pick of the pace.

(A request to the St Pete Times - please let us know what US Congressional canidates or any local canidates raised more than $153,000 in their first quarter.) Thanks.

[Brandon Sernoff is Dave Aronberg]

Nice, our "top lawyer" is doing business with a criminal.

Sounds like a Republican to me.

GO DAN GO

[Orlando voter]

Timmy, no need for Aronberg or Gelber to buy any ads in Orlando. They'll get no votes or money from Central Florida.

[Timmy]

3:51
My exact point.
Thanks for clarifying that for those folks in Rio Linda!

[chill out]

Aronberg had four weeks, Gelber three to raise. If they both keep up their pace, both will raise several million in time for the primary.

[Beach Bum]

Excuse me, Chill Out, Aronberg had four weeks, but Gelber had a fundraising team in the field a lot longer than that while he was a U.S. Senate candidate.

Sure, Gelber only had three weeks after he abandoned his Senate aspirations (big deal, had to change his logo and web site, probably has all the same staff, etc.), but what does that say about his fundraising capacity up to that point?

Even if he had to give all that money back and start over, shouldn't he have done better? Duh! Gelber should have clobbered Aronberg! Instead, he's still in second place, just like when he was a Senate candidate against Meek.

Let's get some perspective here, people! Yeah, it's way early and a lot can still happen, but Aronberg appears to have serious momentum.